296 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



soil. It is so with the agriculturist ; a farmer finds it ne- 

 cessary to change his crops. Were the system adhered to, 

 of sowing the same field with any particular kind of grain 

 for several years, it would become sterile, and fit for 

 nothing. 



Wallflowers may be increased, in moist weather, by 

 taking slips of the young shoots and planting them in the 

 shade, and watering them regularly in dry weather ; in six 

 weeks, if properly attended to, they will be fit to pot offj 

 or they may remain in the ground until fall, if your object 

 be large plants, which is desirable. No Wallflower is 

 worth growing from slips but the Double and Semi- 

 Double ; the latter is preferable. Cape Bulbs, of any 

 kind that will flower in the summer, should be planted 

 without delay. Chrysanthemums may still be propagated 

 by cuttings. Hoe, rake, and keep the beds clear of weeds, 

 for nothing attracts the attention of strangers so much as a 

 well regulated flower garden, free of weeds. 



China Pinks should be planted alongside the Double 

 Sweet William ; by this means the two will cross with- 

 out artificial fecundation, and produce a beautiful hybrid 

 plant, ornamental as well as desirable in the flower gar- 

 den. 



Those whose taste leads to the improvement of flowers 

 by hybridizing, should now begin, as the field opens for 

 their industry. This art has done much for the florist ; as 

 a proof of which we need only point out the perfection of 

 the Rose. There are other plants equally as susceptible of 

 improvement. The industrious bee was the first to en- 

 lighten us on this subject, as it carried the pollen from 

 flower to flower, effecting what man little dreamed of. To 



